# What caused the "Pirate Boom" of a few years ago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2005, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407 "2005-08-17T08:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/21 "2005-08-17T14:35:19Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [**Yo ho, yo ho** , a Pirate’s life for me](http://www.toucans.net/Pirate/yoho.html). > > 😉 Thank you for the correction - sometimes we Pirates fans can be so sloppy! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/22 "2005-08-17T15:12:05Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > (I mean, even if it weren’t for those _fabulous_ boats and the invigorating salt air, just think of the _outfits!_ Who doesn’t look simply _gorgeous_ in a long velvet frock coat with gold piping and all those cute little buttons??) Yummy! Pirate coats are very sexy. With a little gold earring and the right pair of [boots,](http://caboots.com/product/PC2A4CHOCPEBB) that pirate look is just irresistible. It’s cool being a pirate. If you don’t like someone, you can make them walk the plank. Who doesn’t want to make that annoying co-worker walk the plank? My favorite bit of news–the [Pirate Captain](http://pirate.phora.net/) was elected student body president at NC State. > [@](#): > > He is a genuinely nice and intelligent pirate; and he has never made a man walk the plank that did not deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/23 "2005-08-17T15:21:37Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > (I mean, even if it weren’t for those _fabulous_ boats and the invigorating salt air, just think of the _outfits!_ Who doesn’t look simply _gorgeous_ in a long velvet frock coat with gold piping and all those cute little buttons??) Minor nitpick, but I think you’re thinking of Naval Officers, not Pirates. Though in time of war, they often carried out operations highly similar in function to piracy (chase down a merchant ship, sieze it, sell it and it’s cargo at a friendly port of call). I suppose some of them probably said “Arrr” from time to time, as it’s good for the digestion. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/24 "2005-08-17T15:24:44Z")
Arrrr matey, everyone wants to be a pirate. One of the old traditions the US navy still practices is to fly the Jolly Roger during shelback initiation ceremonies when crossing the equator. Legend has it that a slimy pollywog who captures the flag can end all the hazing. Of course anyone who climbs up on the mast is going to have his nuts turned into popcorn by the radar antenna so AFAIK it has never happened. Did anyone notice “life-like research skeletons” in the Wiki article? Neat bit of Trivia, I would have never thought that they would use actual human remains in an attraction, cool. [singing]Robot cowboy pirates were kung-fu fighting… ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/25 "2005-08-17T15:30:59Z")
The boom was caused by the Flying Spaghetti Monster. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/26 "2005-08-17T16:19:45Z")
Pirates aren’t fictional. [http://za.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-17T111004Z\_01\_BAN740171\_RTRIDST\_0\_OZATP-SOMALIA-HIJACK-20050817.XML](http://za.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-17T111004Z_01_BAN740171_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-SOMALIA-HIJACK-20050817.XML) > **[The Times & The Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/)** > > News and opinion from The Times & The Sunday Times [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3092373.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3092373.stm) [http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE\_ID=45535](http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45535) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2175819.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2175819.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/27 "2005-08-17T17:30:02Z")
Let’s not forget the great pirate boardgame **Blackbeard** , published by Avalon Hill in 1991. (Sadly, now out of print.) > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > (I mean, even if it weren’t for those fabulous boats and the invigorating salt air, just think of the outfits! Who doesn’t look simply gorgeous in a long velvet frock coat with gold piping and all those cute little buttons??) > > Minor nitpick, but I think you’re thinking of Naval Officers, not Pirates. Probably thinking of the sartorialy splendid pirate [Bartholomew Roberts](http://www.piratesinfo.com/biography/biography.php?article_id=29), inspiration of many pirate story illustrator and Hollywood costume designer. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/28 "2005-08-17T17:38:22Z")
Me? I think Maddox started all of this pirate talk. If you don’t know who I am talking about, you haven’t done enough net surfin’ ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/29 "2005-08-17T18:48:11Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Minor nitpick, but I think you’re thinking of Naval Officers, not Pirates. Though in time of war, they often carried out operations highly similar in function to piracy (chase down a merchant ship, sieze it, sell it and it’s cargo at a friendly port of call). I suppose some of them probably said “Arrr” from time to time, as it’s good for the digestion. Ye’ll walk the plank for your nitpick, ye scurvy Texan landlubber! Naval officer indeed! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/30 "2005-08-17T19:09:44Z")
My friends and I built a [Pirate Ship](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dan_a_miller/slideshow?.dir=/3034&.src=ph) in the backyard of his house in Burbank, Ca. We’ve been having Pirate parties for more than a dozen years and the boat-building just seemed like the next logical step. See me there September 17th! ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/31 "2005-08-17T21:15:49Z")
Pirates in Paradise Festival: [http://www.piratesinparadise.com/](http://www.piratesinparadise.com/) ARRRRRRRRR!!! ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/32 "2005-08-18T01:42:10Z")
I blame this guy: [http://maddox.xmission.com/](http://maddox.xmission.com/) note: quite a bit of language so watch if you’re at work. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/33 "2005-08-18T01:50:13Z")
Ahh I see someone did enough web surfin’ . Gotta love Maddox and his total lack of PCness. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/34 "2005-08-18T02:27:45Z")
> [@LostGoals](#): > > Ahh I see someone did enough web surfin’ . Gotta love Maddox and his total lack of PCness. 😃 I’ve had him bookmarked for years. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/35 "2005-08-18T08:05:01Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Minor nitpick, but I think you’re thinking of Naval Officers, not Pirates. Though in time of war, they often carried out operations highly similar in function to piracy (chase down a merchant ship, sieze it, sell it and it’s cargo at a friendly port of call). I suppose some of them probably said “Arrr” from time to time, as it’s good for the digestion. > Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr No, pirates decked themselves out, too. I can’t find my cite, but I remember reading that, with his sudden boom in wealth, a newly minted pirate would commission outrageously sumptuous clothing, and most likely drink up the rest of his money. They dressed plainly on ship, sure, but for a night on the town they’d hardly stop at some velvet and shiny buttons. The captain, however, would be sure to make his status on ship known, though probably not without velvet. Velvet is not an ocean-going material – it would be trashed within an hour. A British naval officer, at least, would be more likely to wear wool, which is much more forgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/36 "2005-08-18T08:08:00Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > . . . though probably not without velvet. Not _with_ velvet. Agh. Stupid. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/37 "2005-08-18T12:30:42Z")
In all seriousness, there has been a best seller about pirates every decade since pirates began. Also, since the start of movies, there has been at least one really cool pirate movie every decade. Pirates are cool. Accord? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/38 "2005-08-18T13:26:43Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > In all seriousness, there has been a best seller about pirates every decade since pirates began. Also, since the start of movies, there has been at least one really cool pirate movie every decade. > > Pirates are cool. > > Accord? No, but I used to drive a Civic. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/39 "2005-08-18T14:04:53Z")
I wanted a pirate wedding. I found ‘the _ultimate_ pirate outfit’. I would have looked _fabulous!_ Yar, but the wench changed her mind. Shiver me timbers an’ walk me plank! Ye know the problem with wimmin? They live on _land!_ ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407/40 "2005-08-18T14:19:23Z")
> [@wayward](#): > > If there’s one thing that the internet agrees on, it is the inherent coolness of > [ul] > [li]Robots[/li][li]Ninjas[/li][li]Cowboys[/li][li]Pirates[/li][/ul] > > It was inevitable that at least one of them would become a mainstream cultural phenomenon. We have Cowboys and Pirates covered in some American sports teams: Dallas Cowboys Oakland Raiders Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pittsburgh Pirates No sports teams named after Ninjas or Robots, as yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-the-pirate-boom-of-a-few-years-ago/317407.md?page=3)